Huntington's Disease is a rare genetic disorder, caused by a point mutation. It causes the degeneration of neurons in certain parts of the brain. This is caused by a mutation in a gene that produces a type of protein called Huntingtin. A patient of Huntington's disease may eventually lose the ability to even feed him/herself. Huntington's disease affects about 8 in 100,000 people. Huntington's disease is one of the first genetic disorders for which a test can be taken. A person typically starts displaying symptoms in their 40s, but they may start at any age.
Explanation of picture: Here is a comparison between a brain afflicted with HD (right) and a normal brain (left). As we can see, the brain on the right has more dead brain cells than the left one.
Here is a seven minute youtube clip that talks about people that are either directly or indirectly affected by Huntington's Disease: Clicky!
Here is a five minute sample reel by Chris Furbee, mentioned in the previous video and shows what Huntington's disease can do to someone: Clicky!
General Overview on the Huntington's Disease
Huntington's Disease is a rare genetic disorder, caused by a point mutation. It causes the degeneration of neurons in certain parts of the brain. This is caused by a mutation in a gene that produces a type of protein called Huntingtin. A patient of Huntington's disease may eventually lose the ability to even feed him/herself. Huntington's disease affects about 8 in 100,000 people. Huntington's disease is one of the first genetic disorders for which a test can be taken. A person typically starts displaying symptoms in their 40s, but they may start at any age.Explanation of picture: Here is a comparison between a brain afflicted with HD (right) and a normal brain (left). As we can see, the brain on the right has more dead brain cells than the left one.
Here is a seven minute youtube clip that talks about people that are either directly or indirectly affected by Huntington's Disease: Clicky!
Here is a five minute sample reel by Chris Furbee, mentioned in the previous video and shows what Huntington's disease can do to someone: Clicky!
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